King Continues to Seek Answers on VA’s Canceled Contracts

January 29, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), is still pressing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) for complete information on the VA’s controversial plan tocancel contractsthat provide a wide range of services that help the VA fulfill their mission to care for America’s former servicemembers. In a recent SVAC hearing on Capitol Hill, King pressed VA Secretary Doug Collins to release the VA contracts that were canceled, including those canceled in Maine, so that veterans are aware of potential impacts on patient care and benefits.
“You know that I've been chasing this since last March. I requested it at a hearing last March, and on March 6th, sent a letter to you, and we've all gone through various iterations. Just a few days ago, on the 22nd of January, we got a so-called list of the canceled contracts. It turned out it was the old list, and the old wish list is full of obvious mistakes. It lists $120 billion worth of canceled contracts, which is more than the whole contract amount in the VA. There's obviously something wrong with that. There are also 79 contracts listed as being canceled, which were canceled during the prior administration, some as far back as five years. So could you please clean up this list. I just want to know what's being canceled, and this has been a saga now for almost a year. Give us a clean list! I don't understand why this is so complicated. What contracts have been canceled? What do they do? What are the amounts involved? And I think that's a straightforward request, but so far, it hasn't been honored,”asked Senator King.
“Thanks, Senator. We'll work to alleviate your concerns and do what we can do in that, as we go forward with the contracts. And if there's a specific contract that is, of concern, as always, the issue we have. But I would, I'll make sure—,”replied Sec. Collins..
“I just want to see a clean, a clean, realistic list without these obvious mistakes,”Senator King continued.
“I understand,”said Sec. Collins..
Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as thePACT Act,theState Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act,and theJohn Scott Hannon Act.Recently,in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. In addition, he helped passtheVeterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.
For months, Senator King hasraised concernsover proposed plans to terminate 83,000 VA employees, and participated in aspecial investigative SVAC hearingto question witnesses who were terminated due to DOGE cuts. Last May, Senators King and Blumenthalwrote againto Secretary Collins demanding an explanation for DOGE cuts to cancel contracts at VA that would impact health care for Maine veterans. Earlier this month, Senator King led the introduction of theThomas M. Conway Veterans Access to Resources in the Workplace Actto help veterans better understand the benefits and services available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the2024 Legislator of the Yearfor his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”
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